I am contemplating swaps between two trucks and just cant figure out which route is best....please read and give me your input.

I have two trucks:

Truck one:
1991 F350 Crew Cab, 351w, 4x4, 6 inch lift brand new 20 inch rims with 35 inch tires, new steering box, hoses, rag joint, and an electric fan. I paid $1200 for this truck a few months ago, it needs new lifters at a minimum, but I have been driving it like crazy and have pulled multiple heavyweight hauls, It runs and drives well but the rear of the cab around the window has a little rust, the hood and both front fenders are messed up, the bed has a pretty big dent on behind the pass door, the interior is basically trashed, the heat and the A/C do not work, no cruise and no power anything, the fuel gauges don't work and I cant run off of the rear tank, the brake booster is going as well

Truck two:
I just bought this one...1989 F350 Crew Cab, 460, 2x4, 2 inch body lift, Alcoa rims with BFG AT's in front and MT's in rear (80% tread left) blown trans (haven't determined if its a C6 or a E4OD yet) and it has the independent front suspension. I paid $550 for it. I have never driven this truck, it has an amazing cab and interior, fenders and hood. The bed has been hit from the rear near the driver tail light and the fender flare has been smashed, I have the parts to repair it if I decide to. It has power windows, power locks, cruise control and the heat works

My questions:

Would it be easier to swap the 89 body onto the 91, put in the new lifters and stick with the 351, or to convert the 89 to a solid axle, change the trans and install a transfer case, swap the lift kit, and have the untested 460 and rear end?

If I swap the 89 to a solid axle 4x4, how hard is it going to be to retrofit it with a transfer case? ( I know I need a 4x4 trans and transfer case for this swap)

One of my questions also is, if I swap the body from the 89 to the 91, how similar are the wiring harnesses going to be since the motors are different.

My goal is to have a competent 4x4, that can haul a good size trailer. I want my next project to be an F650 with rockwells, so heavy hauling will be needed. Plus I will be remodeling a house next spring. I really have no preference for a dual or single, but if I could get the inner rims to match my 20's that would be a pretty nice 4x4 lifted dually.

Ok, think on it and let me know, Id like to know why you would choose one over the other as well

 

bump...what the hell? if I had a flickering headlight problem you guys would have a million posts by now!!

 

I would fix the 91 by swaping body,interior and any other parts to make it nice and fix 351W. scrap the 89 to a metal yard and recoup most of the 550.00 to put in engine.

just what i would do in the situation.

 

Or option #3, sell both trucks and buy a good 4x4 truck that runs...
just sayin'...

 

If you have the ability/tools/time to do all the swaps you need, use the 89's chassis, body and engine and swap whatever else is needed to make it a 4x4. Why this one? it seems like it has had a lot less abuse than the other truck. Keep the 351 around just in case that 460 isn't doing his thing anymore.

 

Thanks for the input everyone. After talking to my brother and reading your posts, I decided to go ahead and swap the good body from the 89 dually to the 91 and stick with the proven Windsor. I'll be starting some new posts on the work and progress, thanks again for the help

Hey Chief, How about I sell them and you give me the difference in cash so I can buy a 03 F350 4x4 Crew Cab with a diesel like I really want? Just saying

 

Just don't get a 6 liter diesel!!

 

i agree save yourself the trouble and problems and get a real diesel the 7.3psd or even the 6.9 or 7.3idi but not that pos 6 liter it was the biggest joke ford ever made

 

FYI-actually the 6.0, like all Ford light truck diesels prior to the 6.7, was built by Navistar (IH).

 

7.3 idi, I thought about that swap, but comparing the numbers....it isnt much better than a 460. I am thinking about swapping in a nice turbo 7.3 after I get the truck squared away and get into my own house again in Feb. With a 2 car heated garage to work in